SELF – ENQUIRY and SPIRITUALISM :

To,


All Members,


Spiritualism cannot be limited to any religion or age. Spirituality begins with ‘self-enquiry’ (search for Truth). Many of us have the belief that we can take up spiritualism at our ‘retirement age’ – it could be right, but the fact is that most of us at that time would actually be in ‘search of peace’ and not in ‘search of Truth’ – so it can’t be spiritualism.

Self –enquiry is the first step towards our spiritual up liftment. Self enquiry is that ‘what you enquire within yourself, about yourself and the external world’. It is a gradual process and in this process we often wonder like a child and ask our self – ‘Who am I?’… ‘Where was I?’… ‘What is this world- who created it, why?’… ‘What is life-death?’…etc.., and many such questions. These questions may depend on each individual and his surrounding.

Many of us do think of such questions – but we don’t hold on to them for a long time as it is just one among many thoughts that pass through our mind. It is the initial step for our spiritual progress, where such questions arise by itself and the answer we receive is also without our effort or knowledge – We may call it as a Divine Intervention. There is a saying, “When student is ready, teacher will appear”. – It exactly applies here.

Great sages/rishis of our land began their search ‘inward’. They involved themselves in this search and they could realize the Truth. Our scriptures are the result of their realization. This alone differentiates us from them – ‘the intensity of their thoughts and thought process’.

We don’t give space/time for such thoughts because we are still wandering for many things outside; we are confused and worried about what could give us happiness and satisfaction. Unless we pause our worries, confusions and other cravings these thoughts/questions will not arise within us, and if arising also there will be no depth in such thoughts.

Real spiritualism begins with such queries, it can strike us, at any point of our life – it cannot be fixed to any age group. It is the True knowledge which will make us pure and unselfish by which we will be able to create unity and harmony. Above all, it will enable us to witness the Divinity in each Being around us and not only in an idol.

Spiritualism should not be one, which we take up after enjoying all the pleasures of our life, it is one that we must know/realize while experiencing these pleasures and sufferings and this knowing should enable us to lead our life peacefully without any grudge or frustrations.

|| Sangamitra ||

Swami Sandeepananda Giri